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Nebraska Digest: Nebraska Cover Crop and Soil Health Conference presentations available; Lawrence honored as outstanding weed scientist.

April 14, 2021

3 Min Read
Attendees review corn field at Soybean Management Field Days
RESEARCH SITES SET: Four on-farm sites have been selected for Soybean Management Field Days research plots for 2021. Curt-Arens

In 2020, the popular in-person Soybean Management Field Days moved online because of COVID-19. Research updates were provided to producers in a virtual format.

While the dates, research topics and circumstances surrounding the normal field days are still to be announced, four on-farm research sites for Nebraska Extension soybean researchers have been announced for 2021.

This season, soybean research plots are scheduled for the Jerome Fritz farm at Wilcox; the Kevin Dinslage farm at Elgin; the Bart and Geoff Ruth farm near Rising City; and the Mike Fuchs farm at Arlington. Learn more at extension.unl.edu/statewide/enre/soybean-management-field-days.

Cover crop presentations available

The 2021 Nebraska Cover Crop and Soil Health Conference presentations are now available online at enrec.unl.edu/nebraska-cover-crop-conference.

Topics and presenters include: 

Soil Sensing and Soil Health. Kristen Veum, research soil scientist at USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit, University of Missouri-Columbia

Optimizing Your Cover Crop ROI.  Rebecca Clay, strategic initiatives agronomy coordinator at Practical Farmers of Iowa

Using Aerial Imagery to Determine Cover Crop Impacts on Cash Crop Growth and Development. Andrea Basche, assistant professor, agronomy and horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Experiences and Economics Using Cereal Rye as a Cover Crop. Chad Bell, farmer

Pathway toward a Healthy and Resilient Soil to Achieve Optimum Productivity and Environmental Quality: Cover Crops are Key! Jerry Hatfield, retired director, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment.

On-farm Research of Incorporating Cover Crop into a 3 Crop Dryland Rotation. Ken Herz, owner and operator of Herz Land and Cattle.

Cover Crop Panel. The panel discussion will include growers, landowners, and consultants.

The conference was held in February and is sponsored by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Soybean Board. For more information, email [email protected] or call 402-367-7410.

Nevin Lawrence honored

Nevin Lawrence, integrated weed management specialist at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, has been recognized by the Western Society of Weed Science as the Outstanding Weed Scientist – Early Career.

Lawrence was recognized by WSWS in early March during the society’s 74th annual meeting, which was held virtually. The award recognizes innovative or unique approaches by weed scientists in the public or private sector that result in learning, ability to clearly communicate ideas, motivation of the intended audience, demonstrate excellence and creativity in research accomplishments, applying results to solve problems in weed science, the impact on weed management practices and principals of weed science, and recognition of accomplishments by peers and intended audiences. It is open to people who are within 10 years of their terminal degree.

Lawrence has been the IWM specialist at the Panhandle Center since 2016, after receiving his doctorate in crop science from Washington State University in 2015. He received a master’s degree in agronomy in 2011 from the University of Wyoming and a bachelor's degree in agroecology from the University of Wyoming in 2009.

His research and Extension programming in the Panhandle focuses on using a range of integrated methods to control weeds and invasive plants in both irrigated settings and range and natural areas, and providing information and decision-making tools for farmers.

The Western Society of Weed Science is one of four regional weed science societies, which function under the national Weed Science Society of America.

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